Some of you are old enough to remember and/or have even heard one of the greatest speakers and commentators of all time, Paul Harvey. He was perhaps best known for his regular radio feature called The Rest of The Story, where he would tell fascinating and often unfamiliar-to-most true tales of courage, intrigue and hard work, usually accompanied by a surprise ending.
But his trademark line after a short commercial break on radio was always, And now the rest of the story. Most followers would listen with anticipation while Mr Harvey, in his unique style and somewhat gravelly voice, shared the finale.
And then he would conclude each program with his trademark line, And now you know the rest of the story.
But it’s important in this season to learn or be reminded that Christmas isn’t the whole story when it comes to God’s work and plan for the world. Christmas is of course the story of Jesus, God’s Son, deity in the flesh, being born in time to remain on this earth for thirty-three years.
His birth didn’t happen in a palace, it was in a barn. He came to a poor family not royalty. No instant fame or fanfare. He was loved and revered by some, but others wanted to kill him before he was two years old.
You see, Christmas was never the whole story. Christmas only makes sense when we look at the rest of the story.
Other than one circumstance at age 12, where Jesus was teaching and astounding leaders in the temple, he received no special press or notoriety for the first 30 years of life.
He had no fancy schooling, or home of his own as an adult, no job other than to speak for the Father, the words of God, His true “father,” for approximately three years of His life. He was God in the flesh and modeled the kind of life that God intended for all humans to enjoy if they would follow His example.
And we still have his words and story in the Bible and the words of so many who followed him, knew him.
However, we still need the rest of the story. He also came to die on a cross and rise again, so that all mankind could have access to a relationship with God as one of His children. All we had to do was choose him as the only Savior, the one we receive as Lord, and we were immediately born again into God’s family.
As John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
You see God’s story isn’t complete without part 2. As many of you know, the movie Wicked recently premiered and is very popular. It’s a well-done production no matter your view of the content or how it was presented. It too is a story that has also been done as a play. And I won’t give away any spoilers in case you haven’t seen either version, but it’s common knowledge that it was written in two parts. I’ll leave it at that.
The same is true of Christianity. The story doesn’t end with Christmas. It’s a wonderful, beautiful, miraculous beginning and is worth being celebrated as it is today with teaching, songs, gifts and excitement. It’s one of the greatest actual events of all time. And the typical nice, syrupy, shallow but pleasant Christmas presentations that dominate most television specials, books and movies these days don’t even cover part 1 accurately.
But even the most accurate depictions of the real Christmas story won’t make sense until they’re attached to Easter, part 2. Happily, many of you listening or reading this post know the Easter part as well. But if you aren’t that familiar with the spiritual part of Easter, then make it a point this year to hear the rest of the story, the Jesus part, the conclusion that puts everything all together.
That Jesus, the baby in a manger, did grow and was baptized. His life touched more than we can know. And if you already know and follow Jeus, then celebrate it, praise God like never before Thank Him for making a way to Himself through His Son, born in a manger, who died in our place, rose again made a way for anyone to become a child of God.
You see, as Paul Harvey said, “And now you know (or at least have heard it again) the rest of the story. Merry Christmas and an early Happy Easter.
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